'A huge misstep': Angelica Ross on Sanders' LGBTQ forum no-show

[crazytown]

The Guardian, September 21, 2010
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/21/angelica-ross-lgbtq-presidential-forum-bernie-sanders

'A huge misstep': Angelica Ross on Sanders' LGBTQ forum no-show

On Friday night in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Angelica Ross became the first trans person to host a presidential forum. The star of the FX series Pose kicked off the LGBTQ presidential forum by reflecting on the murders of 19 trans women (18 of them black) in 2019.

(snip) What are your thoughts on candidates like Beto O’Rourke and Bernie Sanders skipping the event? Sanders will also miss the next LGBTQ forum, in October.

I was disappointed to not see all of the candidates here. I was further disappointed to hear this was not the only LGBTQ event Bernie was making other commitments for. You don’t show up for both of our LGBTQ events? That’s obviously telling us all we need to know.

Why do you think Bernie has decided to skip the forums?

I do have some inside information – because I did try to do some digging as to why Bernie was not here. I sent out some questions to folks who were surrounding his camp. And that’s when I found out Bernie had prior commitments.

I’m going to risk being super real here for a second. When you’re on the campaign trail, what’s happening a lot – and what a lot of these candidates have to avoid – is being seen as looking for a photo op. To be seen in certain communities and spaces. I heard that he was not only visiting the [Historically Black Colleges and Universities] but also visiting an old black barbershop.

I’m already struggling as a black trans advocate to get folks in my own black community to understand that being black and being LGBTQ are not mutally exclusive. What I hope Bernie would learn is you don’t have to pander to just one aspect of the black community. If he would have been at the LGBTQ forum tonight, he would have seen we were talking about issues affecting people of color. I think it was a huge misstep on his part. And I’m not here for any of the excuses. I say: “Make it up to me. Make it up to us.”

[NurseJackie]

1. He could be there... if he WANTED to. He simply didn't WANT to be there, and that...

He could be there... if he WANTED to. He simply didn't WANT to be there, and that gives is a big insight into his priorities.

Just watch the candidates closely and they'll reveal something about themselves every day. Sometimes good. Sometimes bad.

What I've learned about BS today isn't good. It makes me respect him less today.

[George II]

3. Interesting that the event was from 7-9 PM Friday night, he was able to get to Iowa Saturday morning

And he has "a scheduling conflict" for the forum in Los Angeles on October 10, which was announced way back in August.

[NurseJackie]

4. It saddens me to see any politician with a perfunctory attitude about these things.

And he has "a scheduling conflict" for the forum in Los Angeles on October 10, which was announced way back in August.

He's letting us know what his priorities are. It saddens me to see any politician with a perfunctory attitude about these things.

I hate it when it's treated as just one more thing on a long "to-do" list... something to "get it over with" so that he (or she) won't have to bother with it again for as long as possible. And even then, after it's done once, or said once, the politician and his (or her) followers can always point to that ONE TIME that he (or she) did, or said something in support of said-group.

I know this is true when I read how people are trotting-out quotes from the Clinton era. Well, times have changed... but the old quotes remain the same and really have no meaningful effect on the challenges of today. It was (and remains) just a checkmark on a list of things once-said... like it's an obligation met, and nothing more needs to be done.

At this critical juncture, I think that it will be a mistake for any candidate to shun (or "not have time for'') our LGBTQ brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, children, parents and loved ones.

It's not like anyone is being accused of being a bigot or hating the community... but everyone IS correct in pointing out that this is a very clear indicator of what a candidate's priorities are.

[vsrazdem]

2. Anyone who believes that every single one of our candidates does not support

the LGBTQ community is doing a disservice to the Democratic Party.

[NurseJackie]

5. Nobody is saying that.

Anyone who believes that every single one of our candidates does not support

Nobody is saying that. But the candidates are making it very clear what their priorities are, and they are being given multiple opportunities to do so.

These are fair observations, not accusations.

[BlueMississippi]

7. It is not about just support

It is the intensity and passion for that support. BS supports the LGBTQ community but not as passionately and as intensely as he rails against billionaires and corporations.

I have no doubt that he believes that the issues facing the LGBTQ are just superficial and once income equality is achieved, they would go away. He believes the same way about African American or Latino issues. If we beat up the billionaires and corporations enough, there will be no discrimination of any kind.

[vsrazdem]

8. I do not believe any our candidates think any issue is just superficial.

[BlueMississippi]

10. I know one who does

I remember statements where it was stated that African American issues are economic issues and once income inequality is eliminated there would be no racism.

[vsrazdem]

11. I remember one who when asked about how to address slavery, said we should sent social

workers into African American homes to help them raise their children. That does not mean he does not support civil rights. You are reaching here.

[BlueMississippi]

14. Black panthers had the connotations perceived differently

"Oppressors" were racist white who wanted to keep AA's down
"Oppressed" were the AA's who wanted to be upwardly mobile.

This was never about income inequality -- just a validation of the fact that the oppressors had all the money and power.

Twisting this to justify BS's narrative is an insult to today's African Americans, the "Black lives matter" movement and also the "modern" civil rights movement.

In this day and age, the AA community has advanced -- there are now a lot of AA businessmen, lawyers, accountants, CEOs and entrepreneurs. Some of them are very wealthy -- but they STILL face discrimination.

BS's rhetoric doesn't address it and the AA and LGBTQ issues are seen as superficial -- subordinate to the income inequality issue.

Spinning a black panther's words won't cut it.

[BlueMississippi]

20. Sophistry is all yours, Sir

Capitalism is the economic system of the US. We can change discrimination and unfair practices without going socialist or communist or authoritarian. American people like the system we have where anyone can aspire to be a millionaire.

[Blue_true]

23. No. But Senator Sanders is clearly placing some issues at a much lower level of

importance. Like one poster pointed out, Senator Sanders seem to believe (or give that impression) that getting economic justice solves race issues, misogyny, and homophobia/transphobia, it doesn't, those are issues that have their own framing and need to be treated that way.

[Cha]

19. This isn't on the "Democratic Party".. most of them are going..

Link to tweet

[Sherman A1]

6. So let me get this straight...

The host of this event was disappointed that some candidates did not make it to the event she hosted? Seems that is a bit self serving of a statement.

As much as they would like to be, the candidates can not be everywhere at once and choices have to be made with consideration to scheduling.

I would look much farther into the candidates statements, history and policy proposals before I would make a judgement regarding their position on LGBTQ rights and/or much of anything else beyond showing up or missing an event.

[crazytown]

9. And can't make HRC's town hall on October 10, announced in August

[Sherman A1]

12. So what

as eloquently stated above. I see no Democrat that does not support LGBT rights. This is much ado about nothing.m

[Hassin Bin Sober]

22. Already has a scheduled tour of HBCUs. Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Now tell me honestly, what do you think the headline would be if he cancelled that?

[Cha]

17. The first one was annonced in March.. & it's not "so what"

Link to tweet

[betsuni]

16. Ross is taking a break from Twitter because of harassment from Sanders and Trump supporters.

[Cha]

18. Awww.. Thanks, betsuni..

Link to tweet